Paris Erupts in Student Protests Against Israel-Palestine Conflict
Sciences Po, a renowned Parisian institute for political studies, has become the focal point of student demonstrations in France regarding the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the university’s academic ties with Israel.
Fueled by anger over the recent Israel-Hamas clashes in Gaza, student activists occupied buildings at Sciences Po. Protests erupted after the university’s director, Jean Basseres, refused their demands to re-evaluate partnerships with Israeli universities.
The demonstrations remained peaceful, contrasting with some more raucous protests witnessed on American campuses. A Reuters correspondent observed police entering the buildings and removing the estimated 70 student occupants.
The university closure on Friday was accompanied by a heightened police presence around the main building. One student involved in the occupation, Jack (who preferred not to disclose his last name), stated that roughly 70 students participated in the overnight occupation.
University officials reportedly attempted to negotiate an end to the protest, proposing that students vacate specific areas within the building. However, student representatives rejected this compromise.
The impact of the protests extended beyond the central Sciences Po campus. A university spokesperson confirmed that demonstrations also affected satellite campuses in Reims, Le Havre, and Poitiers.
Furthermore, footage broadcasted by French news channels revealed similar student blockades at Sciences Po Lyon (an independent university) and the Lille school of journalism.
According to a student spokesperson for the protesters, the movement gained momentum after Basseres’ dismissal of their demands. This resulted in at least one student initiating a hunger strike.
Interestingly, Samuel Lejoyeux, president of the Union of Jewish Students of France, attributed the peaceful nature of the French protests to a stronger national emphasis on dialogue. He expressed a belief that French universities, including Sciences Po, fostered a more open environment for debate on the complex issues surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.